Fathers Day in Butte Meadows

It's been so hot in Colusa. Each time I pick up Clay from daycare and he gets into the car, he says, "Hot, mommy. Hot." So, for Father's Day weekend we decided to escape the heat into the mountains at Luke's family's cabin in Butte Meadows. Plus, I love it up there, and it's basically Luke's favorite place in the world and it was Father's Day on Saturday.  The week before we left to the mountains, I purchased Luke his Father's Day gift: a fly fishing rod. I went to Kittle's in Colusa to pick it out with Clay. I told Clay is was Dad's present, that it was a secret and "shhhhhh." Clay loved it when I hid the wrapped rod beneath the bed and he laughed so hard saying, "shhhhhh."

I had Luke open the gift Friday afternoon before we left. He was excited to get the fishing pole for Butte Meadows, along with the fishing license. But then Luke laughed because he said Clay had been saying "mommy present" to him all week. Luke said he didn't understand what Clay was saying.... so much for keeping a secret Clay!!! Geez!

We had a wonderful time in the mountains. Cindy and Leo were up there, and then Amanda and Eric and the girls came up for a day.  There's just so much for Clay to get into: sand box, tennis, the creek, and then a million rocks and sticks! Clay LOOVED the creek. He definitely didn't mind the freezing cold water. He laughed maniacally and threw rocks. It was lovely!

Clay had a gift for Luke as well!

Clay's daycare helps him make the cutest art projects.

Of course we got him a Clay themed desk calendar.

Finally opening the present hidden beneath the bed all week!

A fly fishing rod!

1 isn't too young to start tennis, right?

Mandatory relaxing morning time.

Happy Father's Day!

 

Father's Day breakfast

Don't let this picture, or Clay's smiling face fool you, I don't think he actually hit the tennis ball once this weekend.

Camping with the Merinos!

Despite our busy summer schedule, Ali and I squeezed in a Steidlmayer/Merino hangout in June. I told Ali that I really wanted to go camping, and she was down for the adventure with our munchkins.  All the campsites were booked in Northern California, but then I found a spot in Santa Rosa that we could reserve at Spring Lake Regional Park. This place had hiking, bike paths, swimming... what more could we want! It was kind of weird being less than 1 minute away from a Starbucks, being that we were right in the middle of Santa Rosa. But, it was beautiful, miles of oak trees and rolling hills, and in the evening when we were in our tents, it did feel like genuine camping. Plus, we did take advantage of being so close to Starbucks and we thoroughly enjoyed our coffee the next morning. Greg and Rose Bruso brought over Bodhi, so it was fun seeing the three little boys all play together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mother's Day!

The best part of being a mom is that now you get an entire day dedicated to you, IN ADDITION TO YOUR BIRTHDAY! Just kidding, but Mother's Day is a fun excuse to have breakfast specially made for you and whatever other fun little surprises Luke and Clay pull together.  As my second official Mother's Day, I was not disappointed, and I actually feel a liiitle spoiled because Luke got my vegetable beds organized and then built me a chicken coop.  Also, Annie was in Colusa for the weekend, so it was lovely to share the day with her. Clay definitely knows her name, and I love hearing him say, "Annie."

My favorite breakfast: egg on toast with avocado!

For dinner, Luke and I had over Cindy and Leo.  Luke bbq'ed burgers.  For dessert, we had this amazing boysenberry pie. Clay went bonkers over it!

After Luke leveled the ground (which was a HUGE project in itself), Luke laid out the railroad ties to make sure I liked the layout of my vegetable planter boxes.

April!

April was a busy month for our little family of three. Luke and I went to New York for a work conference.  We spent Easter in Davis, a weekend in Sonoma for my Grandma's book signing and then of course lots of hanging around home and enjoying Colusa's best weather month.

Of course we caught up with Uncle Paul while we were in NYC!

 

Grandma Cindy and the cousins looking for Easter eggs ...

 

... and Clay found one!

 

I'm not sure why there was so much resistance to the matching shirts. These guys look ADORABLE!

 

I caught Clay playing with this tea set so I quickly snapped a picture. What a cutie!

 

After several years of writing, my Grandma finally had her book published!  At this event in Sonoma, she speaks about her book and why she wrote about raising her severely mentally disabled daughter. I am so proud of her! She did such a great job!

 

Of course we had snacks because we always do!

 

 


 

Clay thoroughly enjoyed the talk.

 

 

Hanging out at home!